Australian Simon Gerrans (Crédit Agricole) won stage two of the Critérium International on Sunday ahead of breakaway companion Jens Voigt (CSC), who took the yellow jersey and seems ideally positioned for the final victory.

Gerrans finished four seconds ahead of the German and 90 seconds up on Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne), who took the bunch sprint for third in the 98.5km stage between Les Vieilles Forges and Monthermé.

The race was neutralized for more than 30 minutes because of a demonstration by employees of a nearby factory.

Three-time winner Jens Voigt slips on yet another yellow jersey.

Photo: Graham Watson

Voigt and Gerrans had been part of a four-man break that included Frenchman Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux) and Italian Mauro Santambrogio (Lampre), who lost contact in the final kilometers.

The 36-year-old German, a three-time winner of the Critérium International, now holds a comfortable lead of 1:14 over Dutch rider Laurens Ten Dam going into the third and final stage, an 8.3km time trial in Charleville-Mezieres.